By Li Qian | 00:01 UTC+8 July 21, 2017

A CHINESE company whose probiotic dairy product is confusingly similar to renowned Japanese brand Yakult has been ordered to pay 700,000 yuan (US$103,497) in compensation for infringement, the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court said yesterday.

Japan-based Yakult Honsha Co sells its popular drink under the Chinese name of Yiliduo in Guangdong Province and Yangleduo and other mainland regions.

Usually, five bottles, with red cap and translucent body, are packaged and sold together.

The Zhejiang-based Guoran Food Company named its probiotic dairy drink Yijunduo and its packaging was very similar to Yakult. Guoran said almost all industry players use similar bottles.

Yijunduo reads very similar to Yiliduo and they shares the same font. The packages of the two are also very similar.

The court said Guoran apparantly aimed to sell its products by capitalizing on Yakult’s reputation, therefore infringing Yakult’s trademark and engaging in unfair competition. Guoran has been ordered to stop using the name of Yijunduo and its packaging.